“How do you know?” Dawson asked. “I
don’t personally perceive how you could possibly dictate that their return is
not exactly their return?”
Buffy paused, “What?”
“Think Giles speak, Buffy,” Xander suggested.
Thinking for a second, she said, “Oh. Well I don’t exactly know, but my spider sense is definitely tingling.”
“What?” the blonde vampire frowned.
“Call it a gut feeling,” she translated.
“Oh.”
“So what’s the plan?” Joey asked looking at all of them. She donned a smile, “Intense interrogation processes?”
Buffy gave her a Look, “Joey, this is not NYPD Blue. We’re not looking to make them confess their deepest, darkest secrets…at least not now. We just need to know that Giles and Ms. Calendar *are* Giles and Ms. Calendar.”
“Okay, no on the interrogation processes, so how else are proceeding?”
“Let’s just call it a round of ‘I Spy…’” the slayer said with a sly grin.
~ * ~ * ~
“The Wizard and the Witch, checking in,” said Oz into the walkie-talkie, “We’re at the northwestern section awaiting the arrival of the Magistrates for stalling.”
“Noted and received, Wizard,” Xander said. “Make sure you and the Witch maintain professional duty despite the fun nature of your duty.”
Willow took the walkie-talkie out of Oz’s hand, “Xander…how could you…”
She could hear a chuckle, “Recall that you should remain on frequency two for direct contact with Wolf Girl and Angel. Nighthawk out with request not to block the lines of communication unless necessary.”
~ * ~ * ~
“Wolf Girl and Angel checking in,” Joey said, “We’re at the South-East point awaiting the arrival of Giles to his strategic meeting with the Magistrates of Defense.”
“Check that Wolf Girl,” Xander said, “Do you and Angel know your procedures?”
“As the Witch and the Wizard stall Magistrates from the meeting, Angel and I conduct a personality analysis based upon the aspects dictated by you and the slayer.”
Angel took the walkie-talkie from her, “Um…Xa…Nighthawk?”
“Don’t wear the code name out, man,” said Xander.
“Yeah…whatever...what’s our foundation of questioning?”
Xander paused, “Uh…I have not been given the following information. It is to my belief that the Slayer has established that with Wolf Girl.”
He looked up, “Joey?”
She took the walkie-talkie and gave him a weak smile, “Wolf Girl and Angel out, Nighthawk.”
“Nighthawk out with reminder to switch to frequency two to receive message from the Wizard and the Witch”
“Joey?”
She switched to frequency two and said with a sigh, “There was a reason why we didn’t tell Ms. Calendar or Giles about Jen right away.”
Angel’s eyes widened in disbelief, “You’re using Jen as a basis of questioning?”
“Angel, it’s not as bad as it sounds.”
“It’s not bad? You’re using the name, the situation of Jen, and you don’t call that bad?”
“What else can we question him on? All that researching and their love of books made Jen and Giles really good friends. I think Jen would want us to know if this Giles is the one that was her friend – our friend – or is he merely an addition to the growing circle of our darkest enemies.”
~ * ~ * ~
“Nighthawk checking in from nowheresville…awaiting the completion of ‘I, Spy,’” muttered the dark-haired teen placing the walkie-talkie on the table of the room the Magistrates had given the Slayer and her Slayerettes.
“Xander?” Buffy’s voice crackled from the walkie-talkie.
He smiled at the sound of her voice and picked up the black object, “What is your authorization? I have no Xander on the operation roster of this frequency.”
“Xander…I’m not calling you Nighthawk.”
“Repeat…there is no Xander on the roster. What is your authorization?”
“Xander…I’m not calling you Nighthawk,” she repeated.
“Not calling me what?”
“Nighthawk.” The moment she said that she sighed, “Xander…that is the lowest of low…the oldest trick in the book…”
He grinned, “Yeah, and you fell for it! Nighthawk is I. This is the Slayer I presume.”
She took a deep breath and chuckled in spite of herself, “This is the Slayer requesting operation stats.”
“All members of the operation are in their positions. We are currently awaiting arrival of Magistrates to section WW and Librarian to WGA. Has Gypsy Woman arrived to your location, Slayer?”
“Not yet, but I am here. I just want to check in. Everything okay at Operation HQ?”
Xander looked around, “I’m liking the quiet.”
“So I guess this is the Slayer signing…”
Xander interrupted her, “Slayer?”
She frowned, “Yes?”
“I just intercepted a message that I think I should bring to your immediate attention.”
“And what message is that?”
“A certain Xander that’s not on the roster wishes a certain Buffy that’s also not on the roster, good luck and as always, be careful,” Xander said and continued, “Nighthawk signing out and sending a request that the lines of communication be remained open unless absolutely necessary.”
He was about to put the walkie-talkie on the table but he heard Buffy’s voice crackle out, “The Slayer has yet to sign off. I’ve intercepted a message of reply.”
<Even static couldn’t make that voice ugly,> Xander thought with a grin.
“Proceed.”
“A certain Buffy wants to reassure a certain Xander that she’ll be okay…she always is.”
“I know…”
“Thank you, Xander…”
“No thank you’s necessary Buffy…just watch out for the Gypsy Woman.”
She laughed softly and sighed, “The Slayer, signing out.”
DISCLAIMER: The characters portrayed in this story are not my own. They are derived from the television series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Dawson's Creek. The previously mentioned is owned by the likes of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Sandollar Productions, etc., and the latter, Kevin Williamson and various other talented personage. No copyright infringement is intended.